Engine



Oct. 12, 1937. A, J, MEYER I 2,095,339

I ENGINE I Filed 001'. 29, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Get. 12, 1937.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITEDSTATES PATE FFlCEi ENGINE Andre J. Meyer, Grosse Pointe Village, Mich., assignor to Continental Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a, corporation of Virginia Application October 29, 1934, Serial No. 750,431 4 Claims. (01. 123-55 My invention relates to engines and more particularly to radial engines of the sleeve valve type embodying a common sleeve valve actuating 10 actuating means, this blower being particularly adaptedfor an engine of the two stroke cycle-type. 5 An object of my present invention is to provide a-"compacttwo-stroke cycleradial'engine of the sleeve valve type, which embodies an improved 15 blower or supercharging device, that advantageously incorporates a portion of the sleeve actuating mechanism asan operating part of the .supercharging device.

Another object of my present invention is to provide an efficient and quietly operating super-v charging device or blower incorporating a movable element which is moved in its orbit-a1 path whereby to minimize friction losses due to the fact that the rubbing speeds between the two parts of the supercharging device are at aminimum.

A still further object of my invention is toprovide a supercharging device or blower'of the character described that is particularly applicable to a. multi-cylinder radial sleeve valve engine, by

30 providing a construction and arrangement,

whereby a plurality of accessible pumping chambers maybe readily formed, whereby to develop the desired intake pressure necessary to operate a multi-cylinder engine of the. type aforesaid.

35 For a more detailed understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through 40 aradial sleeve valve engine of the two stroke cycle type showing in detail the application of a supercharging device or blower structure with the sleeve valve actuating means,

. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the 45 "supercharging device as taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, I Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the coopera .tive action'of the sleeve valve actuating element which is moved in an orbital path and which is so constructed and arranged to cooperate with the casing to provide a supercharging device for the engine, and

Fig. l is a detail sectional View taken substan- 55 tiall-y on the line/4+4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating l3 are secured to said cylinders in a conventional the inlet and outlet valves associated with the pumping chambers of the supercharging device.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a multi-cylinder radial sleeve valve engine of the two stroke cycle type, which particularly 5 embodies a single sleeve valve means for each cylinder, said sleeve valve being moved with a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement for performing the necessary valving functions of the engine. It will he obviously understood that the principles of the present invention may be incorporated in engines other than those of the type illustrated, thepresent construction merely illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

The engine as herein illustrated embodies a crankcase l 0 supporting an engine crankshaft I I, and it will be noted that the engine cylinders I? are secured to said crankcase and positioned radially about the crankshaft. Cylinder heads 0 manner. The cylinders are each ported for intake and exhaust as at I41 and i5 respectively, and arranged to cooperate with a ported sleeve valve l6 operable in the cylinder and moved with a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement. Pistons I? are operable within the engine cylinders, particularly within the sleeve valve means, and are connected with the crankshaft l l 'by the conventional master rod and link rod structure l8.

Each of the sleeve valve means are arranged to be actuated by means of suitable mechanism driven by the engine crankshaft, the preferred construction in the present instance embodying an eccentric member l9 driven by the crankshaft at crankshaftspeed and engaged with an 3 actuating element 20 which is thereby moved in an orbital path and carries pins-2i each having a ball 22 on the free ends thereof for engagement with the socket 23 carried by the sleeve valve I6. Said pins 2! are preferably supported by eccentric bearings 2 la, carried by the wall lfict of the crankcase. 7

It will be noted that the actuating element 20 is so moved that any point thereof will move in the same orbital path, therefore all of the said 7 pins 2| will be moved in thesame orbital path and impart the necessary orbital movement to the'sleeve valve means; The supercharging. device as particularly shown in the present embodiment of my invention is one which is especially adapted for assembly with the actuating element 20 of the sleeve driving mechanism. A casing structure 24 is carried by the engine crankcase and is arranged to surround the actuating element, said casing being preferably integral with the crankcase and concentric with the crankshaft axis. Said casing is eccentrically arranged with respect to the sleeve actuating element 26, said element being moved with an orbital path within the casing. A plurality of vanes 25 are preferably arranged to cooperate with the casing and inner movable element of the supercharging device for providing a plurality of pumping chambers 26. These vanes are preferably equally angularly spaced, as shown in Fig. l, and it is noted that they preferably project radially with respect to the axis of the casing and crankshaft. These vanes are preferably operated within slots 2'! formed in the sleeve actuating element 20, and the innerperipheral edges of said vanes are preferably supported so as to have the outer edges thereof contact with and closely fit the inner cylindrical surface of the casing. The orbital movement of the eccentric inner element 20 causes a relative movement between the element and vanes 25, and it will be noted that the plurality of pumping chambers 25 are thus successively evacuated.

The casing 24 of the supercharging device is provided with inlet and outlet ports 29 and 30 respectively, these ports being provided with suitable inlet and outlet valves 3i and 32 respectively, these valves preferably comprising a thin flexible spring metal disc, and it will be noted that each of the pumping chambers 26 is provided with valved inlet and outlet ports.

The outlet ports communicate with a chamber 33 in the casing, which chamber communicates with an annular distributing chamber 34, the inlet ports of the engine being each connected with this distributing chamber 36 by means of the conduit or elbow 35.

The fuel mixture is preferably formed in a carburetor or other fuel mixing device 36 and conducted through a primary conducting portion 31a to an intake manifold structure 31 for distribution to the inlet ports associated with the pumping chambers by means of suitable branch conduits 38. It will be noted that the casing is provided with alternate passages or chambers 39 and 33 respectively communicating with the inlet manifold 31 and the distributing chamber 34.

A shell structure 40 is preferably provided for housing the engine cylinders which are preferably of the air cooled type and the gear case M in which the sleeve actuating mechanism and the supercharging device are housed. The end of the crankshaft carries a suitable fan 42 which is also preferably housed within the casing 60 for inducing circulation of a cooling air by the cylinders.

The sleeve actuating element 20 is preferably constructed of a resinous compound which is suitably cured by heat and pressure to form a hard structure suitable for carrying the loads, and it will be noted that the weight of this element is much less than a conventional steel element of substantially similar construction, since this compound material of which it is made has a weight substantially two-thirds of that of aluminum. The main body portion 20a of the sleeve actuating element 26, the inner movable element of the supercharging device, is of very light construction, and I preferably reinforce this composite material with a suitable steel disc 43, the said disc 43 being preferably formed so as to be entirely enclosed by the resinous compound material, this disc 43 suitably reinforcing the element 28 and preventing the slots 27, in which said vanes 25 operate, from collapsing. The total weight of said element being small, I find it possible to counterbalance same by means of relatively small steel counterweights 64 secured to the crankshaft II and operated in timed relation with said element operation. Due to the limited space available for the mounting of these counterweights 44, it will be plainly evident that the composite sleeve valve actuating element formed of a resinous compound is of special significance and is readily adapted for a construction such as described, where only small counterweights can be used.

It will be observed that the peripheral rubbing speed of the vanes 29 with the casing is very slight, the vanes 25 being merely oscillated back and forth. Due to the orbital movement of the movable element within the casing, the said element has primarily a rolling action relative to the casing and very little sliding, whereby there is very little rubbing between said movable eccentric element and the casing or stator element. The friction losses are small, and therefore, it is to be expected that the supercharging device is one that is efficiently operated.

The engine crankcase and the supercharger casing carried thereby are to be constructed of aluminum or other similar material, while the vanes 25 are preferably constructed of steel or other ferrous metals. In order to provide a movable element of the compressor or supercharger which will have a good wearing surface with the steel and aluminum parts, I find that an element constructed of a non-ferrous material, such as a resinous compound, is very satisfactory for my purpose.

By employing the sleeve valve actuating unit as the movable element of the supercharging device or blower, it is possible to provide a compact engine structure of minimum weight and size, making it possible to adapt the engine for automobiles and preferably for assembly in the rear of the vehicle.

Although I have illustrated but one form of my invention, and have described in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a radial multi-cylinder engine of the sleeve valve type having a crankcase and a crankshaft, sleeve valve means for each cylinder, sleeve driving means including an actuating element driven by said crankshaft and moved in an orbital path for imparting a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement to said sleeve valve means, a cylindrical casing surrounding said actuating element and eccentrically supported therewith, a vane cooperating with said casing and element to define a pump chamber having inlet and outlet ports, valves associated with said ports, said orbital movement of said element effecting an evacuation of said pumping chamher.

2. In a radial multi-cylinder engine of the sleeve valve type having a crankcase and a crankshaft, sleeve valve means for each cylinder, sleeve driving means including an actuating element driven by said crankshaft and moved in an orbital path for imparting a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement to said sleeve valve means, a cylindrical casing surrounding said actuating element, said casing being eccentrically positioned relative to said actuating element, a vane cooperating with the casing and element to define a pump chamber, said casing provided with valved inlet and outlet ports communicating with said pump chamber and having gas mamfolds respectively communicating with the valved inlet and outlet portsfor respectively connecting said ports with a source of fuel mixture supply and the engine cylinders. 4

3. In a radial multi cylinder engine of the sleeve valve type having a crankcase and a crankshaft, sleeve valve means; for each cylinder,

sleeve driving means including an actuating ele-r ment driven by said crankshaft and moved in an orbital path for imparting a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement to said sleeve valve means, a cylindrical casing surrounding said actuating element, said casing being eccentrically positioned relative to said actuating element,

a vane cooperating with the casing and element to define a pump chamber, said casing provided with valved inlet and outlet ports communicating with said pump chamber and havinggas manifolds respectively communicating with the valved inlet and outlet ports for respectively connecting said ports with a source of fuel mixture supply and the engine cylinders, said manifolds being respectively spaced axially of said pump chamber and on opposite sides thereof.

4. In a radial multi-cylinder engine of the sleeve valve type having a crankcase and a crankshaft, sleeve valve means for each cylinder, sleeve driving means including an actuating element driven by said crankshaft and moved in an orbital path for imparting a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement to said sleeve valve means, a cylindrical casing surrounding said actuating element, said casing being eccentrically positioned relative to said actuating element, a plurality of substantially equally angularly spaced vanes cooperating with the casing and element to define a plurality of pump chambers,

said casing provided with valve inlet and outlet ports for each of said pump chambers, inlet manifold means connecting said inlet ports with a source of fuel mixture supply, and an annular distributing manifold connecting said outlet ports with the engine cylinders.

ANDRE J. MEYER. 

